Offering hikers a relief when nature calls, temporary portable toilets have been installed at the Stanford Avenue entrance to Mission Peak Regional Preserve. Also, a new closing time for the park began earlier this month and will change again at the end of March.

East Bay Regional Park District spokeswoman Carolyn Jones said the park district, which operates Mission Peak, is paying about $20,000 to lease three portable toilets through the end of the year. When the lease ends, the district will consider whether to renew it.

Previously there had been just one permanent vault toilet at the popular Stanford Avenue staging area for the Hidden Valley and Peak Meadow trails, causing long lines. District officials are considering alternatives for a new parking area with a 300 parking space maximum, new public restrooms and picnic tables. A draft environmental impact report is expected to be available for public review later this year. The report will detail two options for the new parking lot site and a “No Project Alternative,” which would maintain the status quo.

William Yragui, of Mission Peak Conservancy, said more restrooms are a “significant event” in the group’s attempts to resolve several issues at Stanford Avenue, including discomfort of those visiting the park.

“This may seem like a trivial issue but we have been concerned about the negative impact on our guests in having to wait in line for access to the single public restroom,” he said.

While the group appreciates what the park district has done, it is calling on the City of Fremont Recreation Department to help offset the costs given that the city receives “many benefits from treating visitors as our valued guests.”

Also, Yragui noted there are no toilets or water fountain sat the Ohlone College entrance to Peak Trail.

“This is unacceptable given the need to provide services to our visitors and reduce demand at the Stanford Avenue entrance,” he said. “The Ohlone College entrance offers expanded parking and the Peak Trail is a viable alternative to the Hidden Valley Trail but only if services are available.”

In response to complaints about increased visitor use of the park, curfew violations, noise and overflow parking in neighborhoods, the park district imposed new hours at Stanford Avenue, formerly 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., last September without public input. The park opens daily at 6:30 a.m. A 6:30 p.m. closing time expired March 7.

March 8 through March 29, the Hidden Valley Trail and the Peak Meadow Trail from the Stanford Avenue staging area are open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

From March 30 to Aug. 30, the park will be open until 9 p.m. From Aug. 31 to Sept. 28 the park will be open until 8 p.m.

Park officials encourage hikers who prefer an early start or to hike at night to park in Ohlone College’s Lot G, open year round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., to access the Peak and Panorama trails rather than from Stanford Avenue. Parking at the college is $2.

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